Patent US4609196A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4609196A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Zig-zag ball
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-10-11
•
Granted: 1986-09-02
•
Expires: 2004-10-11
Abstract
Abstract A zig-zag ball useful as a toy or in sports is disclosed. The ball moves in a zig-zag manner when rolled out on a flat horizontal surface. The zig-zag movement is achieved by a mechanism placed inside the ball which alters the center of gravity of the ball as it rolls. One embodiment of the invention comprises a ball containing an internal shaft with engraved left and right threads, a hollow cylinder slideably mounted on the shaft, a weight attached to the cylinder and a pin on the cylinder contacting and following the threads on the shaft as the ball rolls and the cylinder turns on the shaft.
Inventors
- 👤 Zoran Bozinovic
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 07:18
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B43/00; A63B43/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A ball which moves in a zig-zag manner when rolled comprising: (a) a body, (b) a shaft traversing two points at opposite sides of the body, (c) left and right threads engraved on said shaft, (d) a hollow cylinder slideably mounted on said shaft, (e) a pin connected to said cylinder and slideably contacting said threads and (f) a weight attached to said cylinder such that said weight, pin and threads cooperate to cause said cylinder to reciprocatingly traverse said shaft as said ball rolls.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
A ball which moves in a zig-zag manner when rolled comprising: (a) a body, (b) a shaft traversing two points at opposite sides of the body, (c) left and right threads engraved on said shaft, (d) a hollow cylinder slideably mounted on said shaft, (e) a pin connected to said cylinder and slideably contacting said threads and (f) a weight attached to said cylinder such that said weight, pin and threads cooperate to cause said cylinder to reciprocatingly traverse said shaft as said ball rolls.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
90 words
A ball which moves in a zig-zag manner when rolled comprising a body and means inside said body for altering the center of gravity of the ball in a reciprocating manner as the ball rolls comprising: a shaft transversing a diameter of said ball and attached at points at opposite sides of said body, (b) left and right threads engraved on said shaft, (c) a means mounted on said shaft, (d) a pin connected to said means and slideably contacting said threads and (e) a weight attached to said means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
A ball which moves in a zig-zag manner when rolled comprising a body and means inside said body for altering the center of gravity of the ball in a reciprocating manner as the ball rolls comprising: a shaft transversing a diameter of said ball and attached at points at opposite sides of said body, (b) left and right threads engraved on said shaft, (c) a means mounted on said shaft, (d) a pin connected to said means and slideably contacting said threads and (e) a weight attached to said means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US996458A
Cited
US1120757A
Cited
US2859968A
Cited
US3195267A
Cited
US4194737A
Cited
US4257605A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-09-01 | 1990-03-03 | 1990-09-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-09-01 | 1994-03-03 | 1994-09-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-09-01 | 1998-03-03 | 1998-09-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |